SSD to finalize superintendent search criteria

September 5, 2011

The Starkville School District Board of Trustees will discuss and finalize the criteria for the next superintendent during its regular meeting tonight at 6 p.m.
The criteria was developed after several discussions with faculty, staff and members of the community, who all voiced their opinions on qualities the new superintendent should possess.
Though the public was not permitted to attended the meetings for faculty and staff, Harold Fischer, the Mississippi School Board Association representative who conducted the hearings, said each group gave very similar criteria â someone who is a good communicator, is part of the community and will regain the publicâs trust.
The board has received the report compiled by MSBA and will finalize a list of criteria during the meeting.
âWe sent all the information to the board members and asked that they come prepared to discuss that on Tuesday,â Board President Keith Coble said.
MSBA will assist in the search and begin advertising the position on Sept. 12.
The board will also review a number of new policies during the meeting. The policies will be put up on the agenda for the Oct. 4 meeting for a second reading and consideration of adoption. Among the policies to be discussed are the professional educator code of ethics, authority for emergency closings and standards of conduct and sex education. Recently, the districtâs sex education has been a program called Project ATM (Abstinence âtil Marriage) operated by the Department of Family Centered Programs. The grant for that program ended last year.
âThe policy on the agenda for Tuesday is based on a new law passed by the legislature requiring school districts to offer an abstinence only or abstinence-plus curriculum (HB 999) Â by the 2012-2013 school year,â Nicole Thomas, SSD public information, officer said. âThe school board will hear the policy ICG (which was adapted by the Mississippi School Boards Association) for the first time Tuesday, Sept. 6. Â Since this is a first reading, the board will not take any action Tuesday night.â
All of the policies will be posted on the districtâs website, and the public will be able to give feedback to the board. Thomas said she will send a note to parents as soon as the policies are posted with instructions on where they can be found and how to comment. All the policies have been reviewed by the school boardâs attorney, Dolton McAlpin.
School administrators will give reports to the board on how things have gone at their respective schools since the new year began.
The meeting will take place at the Greensboro Center in Starkville and is open to the public.